"I am here to report that my faith has paid off and I stand before you as the Democratic nominee for President," Barack Obama told a full gymnasium in Bristol, VA.
It was his first day on the campaign trail and his first event since nailing down the Democratic nomination. Obama admitted, "We've had a pretty exciting 48 hours."
In that time, he claimed final victory and Hillary Clinton admitted defeat. Of her, Obama said, "She's tough. She's just an outstanding candidate."
And, now he wants her support and the support for her voters. They are typically rural, union, working class folks. That's Southwest Virginia and it's why he stopped in Bristol for his first campaign event.
"There's a reason why the first event to be had after having obtained the nomination is right here in Southwest Virginia because Southwest Virginia is an example of so much that is good about this country, but so many people who have been forgotten," he said. "Washington hasn't been listening to you and paying attention to you. And I'm here to let you know that I'm listen and I'm going to pay attention and we're going to make life better right here in Southwest Virginia."
One way he hopes to do that is tackling health care. Obama outlined his plan including universal care, telling this group, "If you can't afford it, we'll subsidize you so that everybody will get this health care if they want."
And he promised to have that done during his first term.
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